Four Chinese nationals to be deported from Zim for killing and eating rare tortoises

Four Chinese nationals are facing deportation from Zimbabwe after they were arrested for killing more than 40 rare tortoises for meat.Animal welfare officials said the men admitted charges of animal cruelty.Investigators found the skeletal remains of 40 endangered Bell’s Hinged tortoises, in a raid on the men’s house.

They also reportedly recovered 13 live tortoises stored in steel drums without water or food.

Villagers in Bikita, in south-eastern Zimbabwe, said the reptiles were dropped alive into boiling water.

The tortoise is listed as an endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.